# data[].attributes.headline
The Great Gatsby                                                           by F. Scott Fitzgerald

# data[].attributes.subject
The Great Gatsby                                                           by F. Scott Fitzgerald

# data[].attributes.body
F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in 1896 on September 24th in Minnesota, U.S. Fitzgerald was the only son of his aristocratic father. He saw himself as the heir of his father’s tradition, and that tradition was made up from Francis Scott Key, the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. This led to him having a mixed thoughts about the American life, which seemed to him at one point as a promising lifestyle.

# data[].attributes.body
The time period in which The Great Gatsby took place was during the Prohibition Era, which ruled against the consumption and sale of alcohol. The only way to get the highly demanded alcohol was through bootlegging and organized crime, a method that Gatsby capitalized on and used to become very wealthy.

The book takes place on Long Island, in New York City, and greatly influences our understanding of the book due to its large population and metropolitan area. New York City was thriving and obviously had lots of bootlegging of alcohol in the timeframe of the 1920s. Most modern-day cities still have under the table sales of illegal substances.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1920 and ratified by 46 out of 48 states. The Volstead Act set down rules for enforcing the federal ban and defined the types of alcoholic beverages that were prohibited. Not all alcohol was banned; for example, religious use of wine was permitted. Private ownership and consumption of alcohol were not made illegal under federal law, but local laws were stricter in many areas, with some states banning possession outright.

After the laws went into effect, many Americans embraced bootlegging (the illegal manufacture and sale of alcohol). In just the first six months of 1920 alone, the federal government opened 7,291 cases for Volstead Act violations. Secret bars opened across many cities which became known as speakeasies. A password would be required to get in and the owner would often have bribed local police to stay away.

Eventually, criminal gangs gained control of the beer and liquor supply in many cities. By the late 1920s, a new opposition to prohibition emerged nationwide. Critics attacked the policy as causing crime, lowering local revenues, and imposing "rural" Protestant religious values on "urban" America. When the Great Depression began in 1929, more Americans turned against Prohibition, believing that it hurt the economy.

Prohibition officially ended with the ratification of the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment on December 5, 1933, though prohibition continued in some states. To date, this is the only time in American history in which a constitutional amendment was passed for the purpose of repealing another.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in 1920 and ratified by 46 out of 48 states. The Volstead Act set down rules for enforcing the federal ban and defined the types of alcoholic beverages that were prohibited. Not all alcohol was banned; for example, religious use of wine was permitted.

# data[].attributes.body
The Wolf of Wallstreet covers a true story based on the notorious stockbroker, Jordan Belfort. His greed and lust for money leads to his jail sentence and large fine.

# data[].attributes.body
Prohibition Era Gangsters Painting
Mark Beerdom

This is a painting that resembles the industry of bootlegging alcohol. Jay Gatsby was in this industry and the book The Great Gatsby takes place in a hectic New York City environment. Lots of crime was taking place in these areas and wealth was pouring in from all angles due to the lack of alcohol. Gatsby profited massively from this and gained his wealth quickly.

# data[].attributes.body
Money Can't Buy Happiness
Ella Marley

This poem is a great example of how important money is towards our society. People depend on it, people's friends depend on it, people's families depend on it, and so on. It's a never ending cycle of necessity and it will stay that way. However, the influences of our the people who care about you is astronomical compared to any sum of money. It is all you need in terms of HAPPINESS.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When all of your hope hangs in a 2 percent You set out on a mission to find out where the other 98 went It lies in the hands of something sweet has honey As dangerous as fire, of course its money It brings you up and takes you down It will buy you a fancy house in town It will destroy your life if you don't have enough You'll leave your wife when the getting is tough You can buy things with it that are illegal without fail but don't worry if you have enough it can get you out of jail It can make you look pretty when your really not It can get you out of winter and too a tropical spot It can save you and give you an education It can get you out of a sticky situation It can buy fake affections and desires It can rebuild things destroyed by fires but unfortunately for some it has no affect on people who are real People who have extreme emotions and can actually feel To keep people in my life forever I would give my every penny But honestly, I don't think I have that many.

Copyright © Ella Marley | Year Posted 2009

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When all of your hope hangs in a 2 percent You set out on a mission to find out where the other 98 went It lies in the hands of something sweet has honey As dangerous as fire, of course its money It brings you up and takes you down

# data[].attributes.headline
Additional 1:                                                               Money can buy happiness: Michael Norton at TEDxCambridge 2011 

# data[].attributes.subject
Additional 1:                                                               Money can buy happiness: Michael Norton at TEDxCambridge 2011 

# data[].attributes.body
Norton discusses the impact of wealth on people's lives and suggests a different method of approaching this question, are you spending your money right? He offers a few points of why he asks this, mainly stressing that we only spend money on ourselves out of selfishness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Can money buy happiness? : Michael Norton at TEDxCambridge 2011

# data[].attributes.headline
Additional 2: Can Money Buy Happiness? - AsapSCIENCE

# data[].attributes.subject
Additional 2: Can Money Buy Happiness? - AsapSCIENCE

# data[].attributes.body
This video further stretches the idea that an extensive amount of money can lead to unhappiness depending on the outside factors around you. It notes that many who win the lottery are later reported to be unhappier than they were originally. They offer the same idea that spending money on others if you are considered "wealthy" is a good way to maintain some level of happiness whether it be an increased level or the same.